Playa Post

Vol. 7 Issue 5, July 2009

need to know

Research News: Recharge Rates and Chemistry Beneath Playas of the High Plains Aquifer—A Literature Review and Synthesis

By Jason J. Gurdak and Cassia D. Roe

Playas are ephemeral, closed-basin wetlands that are important zones of recharge to the High Plains (or Ogallala) aquifer and critical habitat for birds and other wildlife in the otherwise semiarid, shortgrass prairie and agricultural landscape. The ephemeral nature of playas, low regional recharge rates, and a strong reliance on ground water from the High Plains aquifer has prompted many questions regarding the contribution of recharge from playas to the regional aquifer...(MORE)

Conservation Efforts: Repairing Playa Pits on the Kiowa/Rita Blanca Grasslands—A Q & A With Nancy Walls, District Ranger

1. What exactly are playa pits and how do they made?

Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s the Forest Service implemented a program on the Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grassland to improve wildlife and waterfowl habitat in the playa lake systems on the District. The program centered on creating deeper ponds and islands within existing playa lake systems. Pits or trenches were mechanically dug within the playa basins to deepen the pools of open water and the excavated material was then mounded into artificial islands to create nesting and resting habitat for waterfowl. Wetland vegetation like willows and assorted shrubs were also planted in the vicinity of some excavated ponds. Most of these areas were then fenced to exclude livestock from the site...(MORE)

joint ventures In the Spotlight

Kratovil’s Joint Venture for Bird Habitat Conservation Act Unanimously Passes Natural Resources Committee

Last month, Congressman Frank Kratovil (D-MD), along with Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI), Henry Brown (R-SC) and Rob Wittman (R-VA), introduced the Joint Ventures for Bird Habitat Conservation Act of 2009. The purpose of the bill is to establish a voluntary program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in coordination with other Federal agencies and the States to develop, implement and support cooperative and effective conservation strategies to promote sustainable bird populations, encourage stakeholder and government partnerships, implement science-driven, landscape level bird conservation strategies, and coordinate related conservation activities. The act was unanimously passed by the House Natural Resources committee and now awaits the consideration of the full House.

This bipartisan measure will authorize Joint Ventures (JVs) across the country, including the Atlantic JV, which focuses on conservation of native birds in the Atlantic Flyway of the United States. The Atlantic Flyway runs from Maine to Puerto Rico (17 states and commonwealths). From 1988 to now, nearly 5 million acres of wetlands, wetland-associated and other habitat areas have been conserved via the Atlantic JV. A Joint Venture (JV) is generally defined as a self-directed partnership of agencies, organizations, corporations, tribes, or individuals that have formally accepted the responsibility of implementing national or international bird conservation plans within a specific geographic area and have received general acceptance in the bird conservation community for such responsibilities.

Joint Ventures are non-controversial and effective tools for implementing landscape level conservation projects and this legislation already enjoys strong support within the environmental and conservation communities.

Also in the News:

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory Unveils Colorado Playa Map Viewer
Senators Move Clean Water Fight Out of Committee
Bird-watching With BirdsNebraska.org
NAWCA Celebrates 20 Years of Funding Conservation Partnerships
KGLC Range Schools Filling up Quickly
Congress Recommends Record Wetlands Restoration Funding
Parkinson Reappoints Bolton to Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission
Winter Grips North, Migratory Birds Can't Breed

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